The Meaning of Home and Rug Hooking with Interior Decorator Marsha Sefcik
Today, I had the pleasure of joining Deanne Fitzpatrick of Hookingrugs.com on her podcast to discuss how we create beauty everyday in our homes and though our rug hooking. You can listen here.
Deanne Fitzpatrick is a renowned artist and writer who believes that rug hooking and creativity deepens and enriches lives. She has exhibited widely including two solo exhibits at The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Deanne has written eight books, received an honorary doctorate from Mount Saint Vincent University and was awarded The Order of Canada for her contribution to advancement rug hooking as an art form.
Creating Beauty Every Day Through the Way We Live
When I think about creating beauty every day, I think about the quiet ways we care for our homes and our lives.
As women, our homes are often the place where our God-given creativity shows up most naturally.
It shows up in how we set the table.
How we arrange a room.
How we fold a blanket over the arm of a chair.
How we make space for the people we love.
It’s creativity that isn’t loud or performative — it’s deeply personal and deeply meaningful.
The Power of Nesting
There’s something deeply instinctive about nesting.
Just like birds build nests, women have this natural desire to shape their environment so it feels safe, warm, and welcoming.
A home becomes the backdrop of our lives — where our families grow, where we rest, where we celebrate, where we grieve.
Decorating a home isn’t frivolous.
It’s actually an act of care.
It says:
"This space matters. The people who live here matter."
The Myth of the “Dream Home”
From the time we are little girls, we hear the phrase “dream home.”
But the reality is that many of us will never live in the idealized version of that dream.
And when we hold that standard too tightly, it can quietly create discontentment with the homes we do have.
Add to that:
design shows
social media
the constant churn of trends
Suddenly we feel like our homes are never enough.
But the truth is:
Your home does not need to be perfect to be beautiful.
It just needs to reflect the life that is being lived inside it.
Slowing Down the Way We Decorate
We’re living in a time of fast design.
Cheap furniture.
Disposable decor.
Things bought quickly and replaced just as quickly.
But after 20 years as a designer, I encourage people to think differently.
Invest in:
quality pieces
antiques
things with history
things made well
When something is well made and meaningful, it becomes part of your life story.
And those pieces often become the things your children remember.
Form and Function
Another belief I have is that everything in your home should serve a purpose.
Not just fill space.
We are all guilty of collecting tchotchkes.
But I believe decor can still have a role or a function.
A bowl can hold fruit.
A basket can hold blankets.
A beautiful lamp gives light.
When we think about our homes this way, we naturally become more thoughtful about what we bring in.
Shop Your Home First
Before buying something new, I always encourage people to shop their own home.
Move things around.
Change rooms.
Rearrange furniture.
Recently I actually swapped my living room and dining room/sunroom.
Suddenly everything felt fresh again — without buying a single thing.
Those little shifts can completely reawaken a space.
The Joy of Seasonal Living
One of the simplest ways I create beauty in my own home is through small seasonal changes.
switching out wool blankets for lighter ones
changing pillow covers
putting fresh sheets on the bed
There is something about freshly laundered cotton sheets dried on the line that makes me almost giddy for bedtime.
Those little rituals remind us that home is something we experience, not just something we decorate.
Homes Are Meant to Be Lived In
I think sometimes people feel pressure for their homes to be magazine ready.
But homes are not meant to be perfect.
They’re meant to be:
lived in
a little messy
full of stories
full of life
A well-lived home has layers.
It has wear.
It has personality.
Decorate for the Season of Life You’re In
One of the most freeing ideas I share with clients is this:
Decorate for the season of life you're in.
If you have young kids, your home will look different.
If you’re raising teenagers, it will shift again.
If you become empty nesters, your home evolves once more.
A home should grow and change with you.
It should support your life — not compete with it.
Closing Thought
Creating beauty every day isn’t about chasing trends or achieving perfection.
It’s about living intentionally in the space you already have.
It’s noticing the light in the afternoon.
Lighting a candle.
Folding a blanket.
Opening the windows.
These small acts of care are what transform a house into a home.
And when we do that, we are quietly expressing the creativity that God placed within us.
“Creating a beautiful home isn’t about perfection;vit’s about care. When we care for our homes, we’re really caring for the people who live inside them.”
Some of the rugs I’ve been fortunate to create…many are Deanne’s patterns.
